I research the relationships between sleep, dreaming and memory, with experiments in our two bedroom sleep lab or data collected by participants sleeping at home.
Carr, M., Matthews, E., Williams, J., & Blagrove, M. (2020). Testing the theory of Differential Susceptibility to nightmares: The interaction of Sensory Processing Sensitivity with the relationship of low mental wellbeing to nightmare frequency and nightmare distress. Journal of Sleep Research, 29
Carr, M., Summers, R., Bradshaw, C., Newton, C., Ellis, L., Johnston, E., & Blagrove, M. (2020). Frontal Brain Activity and Subjective Arousal During Emotional Picture Viewing in Nightmare Sufferers. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14
Carr, M., Konkoly, K., Mallett, R., Edwards, C., Appel, K., & Blagrove, M. (2020). Combining presleep cognitive training and REM-sleep stimulation in a laboratory morning nap for lucid dream induction.. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 7
Blagrove, M., Hale, S., Lockheart, J., Carr, M., Jones, A., & Valli, K. (2019). Testing the Empathy Theory of Dreaming: The Relationships Between Dream Sharing and Trait and State Empathy. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1351
Blagrove, M., Edwards, C., Rijn, E., Reid, A., Malinowski, J., Bennett, P., Carr, M., Eichenlaub, J., McGee, S., Evans, K., & Ruby, P. (2019). Insight from the consideration of REM dreams, non-REM dreams, and daydreams.. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 6, 138-162.
This module provides an introduction to biological psychology and the influence of the biological approach on the wider discipline of psychology. Through a series of lectures and tutorials this module will consider the structure and function of the brain and central nervous system and how they underpin human behaviour. The importance of understanding the role of hormones and neurotransmitters on physiology and behaviour as well as the biological basis of individual differences will be covered. These fundamental elements will be explored through by key topics such as emotions, motivated behaviour, language, sleep, learning and memory, and schizophrenia. The importance of understanding evolutionary psychology and gene environment interactions will also be integrated throughout the module.
PSY113Biological Psychology
This module provides an introduction to biological psychology and the influence of the biological approach on the wider discipline of psychology. Through a series of lectures and tutorials this module will consider the structure and function of the brain and central nervous system and how they underpin human behavior. The importance of understanding the role of hormones and neurotransmitters on physiology and behavior as well as the biological basis of individual differences will be covered. These fundamental elements will be explored through key topics such as emotions, motivated behavior, language, sleep, learning and memory, and schizophrenia. The importance of understanding evolutionary psychology and gene environment interactions will also be integrated throughout the module.
PSY319Final Year Independent Research Project
Students conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a member of staff. The research topic is decided in conjunction with supervisors and Research topics. Students must design, conduct, analyse and write up a piece of research in order to achieve Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS). They must also complete an Ethical Considerations Form, showing that they have considered and resolved ethical issues relating to their project.
PSY325Independent Research Project - Joint Honours
Students conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a member of staff. The research topic is decided in conjunction with supervisors and research topics. Students must design, conduct, analyse and write up a piece of research in order to achieve Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS). They must also complete an ethical considerations form, showing that they have considered and resolved ethical issues relating to their project.
PSY357Sleep and Dreaming
The module provides an in depth look at the psychology and neuroscience of dreaming. It addresses the relationship between dreaming and the stages of sleep, and the relationship with waking life events and concerns. The module covers research conducted in sleep laboratories as well as research on dreams collected at home. Different types of dreams are explored, such as lucid dreams and nightmares. The relevance of Freud to current work in experimental psychology on dreaming is critically evaluated, including claims that dreams can be a source of personal insight. Finally, students will be able to explore the current debated issue of whether dreaming has a function, and whether this function is related to proposed functions for sleep.